ENGLISH
REFERENCE

unreal

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ənˈɹiɫ// UK //ʌnɹˈiəl// un·re·al Informal

adj. so strange, beautiful, or impressive that it does not seem like it could be true. You use this when something feels like a dream or is much better than you expected.

adj. resembling a dream or fantasy rather than reality; exceptionally good or impressive. Often used to describe experiences that defy expectation or seem impossible.


SIMPLE

The view from the top of the mountain was unreal.

CONTEXTUAL

Winning the championship after such a difficult season felt completely unreal to the whole team.

COMPLEX

The special effects in the film were so advanced that the alien landscapes looked unreal, yet strangely convincing to the audience.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From un- + real.

Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'feel', 'look', or 'seem'.

© 2026 English Reference